HCR 158 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE JUDICIARY TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP LANDLORD-TENANT CODE IMPROVEMENTS TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING IN HAWAII.

HCR 158 is a procedural resolution requesting the Attorney General to convene a three-year working group to study landlord-tenant code improvements aimed at increasing Hawaii's rental housing supply. The working group - comprising landlords, tenants, legal experts, and judicial representatives - will identify barriers to rental availability, evaluate legal and procedural challenges, and recommend code changes. It does not enact new laws but directs the group to submit a report by early 2026. This resolution directly affects housing providers, tenants, and the judicial system by focusing on systemic issues in rental housing.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 7, 2025 Last action Apr 4, 2025

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What changed between versions

HCR158 → HCR158_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to change the requesting authority from the Attorney General to the Judiciary, and the scope of the working group's tasks was narrowed by removing the requirement to identify unused rental housing stock. This shift moves the initiative from a housing supply focus to a legal and procedural focus, while reducing the number of specific issues the group must investigate.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from a broad housing supply initiative to a more focused legal and procedural review of landlord-tenant issues.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the requesting authority from the Attorney General to the Judiciary, which will now convene and chair the working group instead of the Attorney General.

Removed the requirement for the working group to identify potential rental housing stock that is not being offered for rent.

Reduced the working group's task list from five items to four items, removing the specific mandate to evaluate unused housing inventory.

Changed the final transmission requirement to send certified copies to the Judiciary instead of the Attorney General.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to CPN, JDC.

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 540).

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2).

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1860), recommending adoption.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Committee

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Garrett, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Ward excused (4).

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1534) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Referred to CPC, JHA, referral sheet 22

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Offered

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors